(Washington, D.C.) – Today, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Brian Babin and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren praised the Senate’s passage of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026 (S. 3923), introduced by Senator Ted Cruz and a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues.
Chairman Babin and Ranking Member Lofgren issued the following statements:
"Reliable weather forecasts and timely warnings are essential to protecting American lives and property," said Chairman Brian Babin. "Last year's devastating floods in Texas served as a tragic reminder of the need to better predict severe weather and communicate critical information to communities in harm's way. The Weather Act Reauthorization represents an opportunity to modernize our nation's forecasting capabilities and strengthen emergency preparedness. Building on the legislation the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee advanced last September, the Senate-passed bill reflects a bipartisan, bicameral compromise and a shared commitment to protecting American communities. I thank Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Lofgren, Rep. Lucas, and our colleagues in both chambers for their hard work in reaching this agreement. I look forward to continuing our efforts to get this legislation across the finish line."
"This is a long time coming," said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren. "The Weather Act Reauthorization will give NOAA the support it needs to carry out its critical mission. I want to thank Chairman Babin, my former Committee partner, Mr. Lucas, and the dedicated staff on both sides of the aisle for getting this to the finish line. The World Meteorological Organization just released its State of the Climate update, emphasizing that the supersized El Niño we are experiencing is expected to bring record heat, flooding, and drought conditions for the next year. Now more than ever, more observations and data are needed to bolster our nation's forecasting capabilities to protect lives, property, the economy, and national security. We have to ensure that NOAA has the tools, staffing, and infrastructure to help support communities prepare for and respond to disasters. This bill will help us do that. I hope the president will see the importance of this legislation and sign it into law soon."
Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Ted Cruz and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell also emphasized the importance of the legislation following its passage:
"Today, the Senate took a pivotal step toward ensuring Americans are prepared for severe weather," said Chairman Ted Cruz. "Texans know all too well the devastation storms can bring. The lives lost in the July 4, 2025, Texas floods are a heartbreaking reminder of what is at stake. The Weather Act brings together over a dozen bipartisan bills to modernize radar systems, deliver more accurate and timely forecasts, and improve warnings so families and first responders have more time to act, no matter where they are and no matter the time of day. These improvements will help protect property and, more importantly, save lives in Texas and across the country."
"Americans are facing increasingly dangerous and costly weather disasters, and better forecasts give communities more time to prepare and get out of harm’s way," said Ranking Member Maria Cantwell. "The Weather Act will advance next-generation weather radar, modernize lifesaving warning systems, and improve forecasts for atmospheric rivers and wildfires, like the devastating fires that forced thousands to evacuate in Spokane last month. Today’s Senate passage brings us one step closer to giving forecasters, emergency managers, and communities the tools they need to save lives and protect property."
The Senate-passed legislation builds on the bipartisan Weather Act reauthorization bill advanced by the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee in September 2025. The agreement also incorporates priorities championed by House Republicans, including efforts to modernize NOAA Weather Radio, improve fog forecasting, and address gaps in weather radar coverage.
Highlights of S. 3923 include:
- Modernizing weather forecasting and research through advances in next-generation radar, hurricane and tornado prediction, atmospheric river forecasting, and high-performance computing.
- Improving severe weather warnings by modernizing NOAA Weather Radio, strengthening public alerting systems, and enhancing the communication of hazardous weather risks.
- Expanding commercial weather data acquisition by enabling NOAA to obtain a wider range of private-sector weather observations and services to support forecasting and modeling.
- Strengthening community preparedness by improving weather information for farmers and water managers, expanding observations in under-observed areas, and advancing wildfire and landslide preparedness.